How I Am Connected to the American Revolution

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

"Yankee Doodle went to town A-Riding on a pony Stuck a feather in his cap And called it ________." Have you heard this song before? Do you know what word is missing at the end?

Yankee Doodle calls his feather macaroni! How funny.

Listen to the song "Yankee Doodle" in the video below.

• What do you notice about how the children are dressed?

• What historical period do you believe this song came from?
• When you listened to the song, did you recognize any of the instruments being played?
• Did you hear the drum?

There was another instrument, called the fife, that you often hear in this song. It sounds like a high-pitched flute.

Click the blue button to hear another example!

The fife and drums were very popular instruments when this "Yankee Doodle" was written over 300 years ago!

It was made when America was at war with another country, fighting for freedom.

There was a position in the army called Drummer Boy. Young men would learn different drum rolls to be used for communication.

Over 400 years ago, there was a war between the people living in America and England.

Although many people living in the colonies had come from England and wanted to remain English citizens, they had many disagreements with King George III. They tried to settle these arguments, but the king would not compromise. He wanted things done his way.

Finally, the colonists decided to fight for their independence. The war started in 1775 and ended in 1783.

• How many years did it last?

If you answered 8 years, you are correct! When the war ended, the country now called the United States was born!

Another important date in the Revolutionary War was July 4, 1776.

• What is something special that happens on the 4th of July?
• Fireworks, right? Why do Americans set off fireworks on the 4th of July?

They do it because that is when the people from the 13 colonies signed an important paper called the Declaration of Independence, declaring they were free from England!

The fireworks help celebrate the special day.

Review what you just learned with the video below.

Check out the resources below to learn more about people's lives during the Revolutionary War, including food and transportation.

• Daily Life During the Revolutionary War
• Colonial Daily Life During the American Revolution

If you are interested in exploring even further, consider reading If You Lived at the Time of the American Revolution by Kay Moore.

Now that you know what the Revolution was about, move on to the Got It? section to learn more about early America, including how transportation and the flag changed over time!